SOTHEBY’S ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST MARQUEE AUCTION SERIES
IN ABU DHABI IN DECEMBER
– In Collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office –
Furthering its Commitment to the Fastest Growing Region for Culture, Art & Luxury Inaugural “Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week” of Exhibitions and Sales to Take Place 2 – 5 December 2025
Katia Nounou Boueiz, Head of Sotheby’s UAE & Deputy Chairman, Middle East: “By any measure, Abu Dhabi has become a leading global destination for culture and luxury. In that spirit, we are excited to join forces with ADIO to present a vision of the future for collecting and luxury experiences. Our December showcase on Saadiyat Island, during one of the busiest
weeks in the Abu Dhabi calendar, will be unmissable for collectors across the region and internationally.”
Noora Al Foulathi, Head of Abu Dhabi Retail: “Abu Dhabi is where heritage transcends time and connoisseurship is a way of life. With the exclusive global debut of Collectors’ Week in the capital, we unveil more than rare and exceptional pieces – we reaffirm the city’s cultural depth, shaped by the quiet power of true luxury.”
ABU DHABI, 28 August 2025— Marking the next step in Abu Dhabi’s rise as one of the world’s fastest growing regions for culture, art and luxury, Sotheby’s, in partnership with Abu Dhabi
Investment Office (ADIO), has announced an exclusive programme of auctions, masterclasses, panel discussions and exhibitions to take place in Abu Dhabi.
This December, Sotheby’s will host an inaugural series of auctions, bringing extraordinary treasures to the doorsteps of collectors in Abu Dhabi as well as those from all over the world. The
schedule of events and experiences will begin in September, with the first auction taking place in October during ‘The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ’, and culminating in “Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week” from 2 – 5 December: a series of auctions that will span high jewellery, rare timepieces, world-leading collector cars and exclusive real-estate from RM Sotheby’s and Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions, alongside a museum quality exhibition of international fine art.
The week’s offerings will be set against the stunning backdrop of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, culminating in an auction on Abu Dhabi’s shores.
Saadiyat Island is home to a constellation of museums, cultural institutions, collections and public programming, including the world-renowned Louvre Abu Dhabi as well
as the soon-to-be-opened Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum.
Taking place during one of the busiest and most dynamic weeks in the region – including Formula One Grand Prix, Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit 2025, Abu
Dhabi Finance Week, and Bitcoin MENA – Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week is set to attract a truly global audience of tastemakers, thought leaders, and collectors.
Prior to the opening in Abu Dhabi, sale highlights will travel to Sotheby’s international locations to be presented to global collectors in advance of the auctions.
See below for a preview of the offering, with further information on exhibition timings and the full contents of the auctions to be announced in due course.
A FIRST LOOK AT THE OFFERING
Josh Pullan, Global Head of Sotheby’s Luxury Division: “At Sotheby’s, we have taken incredible strides to cement our position as a global powerhouse for luxury. This unprecedented
auction week – and all of the events that will lead up to it – is poised to showcase the very best of what Sotheby’s has to offer, and we are thrilled to already be able to announce that the week
will be anchored by a single-owner collection replete with top quality jewellery and watches, alongside unparalleled automobiles. With the Middle East – and the UAE in particular – as one
of the most dynamic drivers of the luxury industry, we could have chosen no better home to do this than Abu Dhabi.”
As excitement builds ahead of the Formula One Grand Pix in Abu Dhabi later this year, RM Sotheby’s marks the occasion with a landmark collaboration with McLaren Racing, offering a trio of future competition cars representing the iconic team’s racing portfolio. Recently announced by McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, during Monterey Car Week, the ‘Triple
Crown’ project offers the opportunity to purchase three competition chassis from upcoming seasons before they are fully unveiled or raced, including a 2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team car, a 2027 McLaren United AS racer from the World Endurance Championship, and a 2026 Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team Indianapolis 500 race-driven INDYCAR from the US-based NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
The cars will go under the hammer on 5 December during the final Formula 1 race of the season, offering fast-tracking buyers the unique chance to place themselves
at the heart of McLaren Racing’s on-track endeavours. These three special lots are only made more enticing by the comprehensive of exclusive experiences ranging from tours of McLaren’s
sites and VIP tickets to preferential access to McLaren road and race car purchase options.
Also taking centre stage at Collectors’ Week will be a 2017 Pagani Zonda 760 Riviera (estimate: $9.5 – 10.5 million). Created by the Pagani factory and based on a Zonda F, this remarkable example was reimagined in one-off Riviera specification in 2017. With 750 hp and many unique upgrades, this cutting-edge creation is presented in pearl white with blue accents and exposed
carbon fibre.
A further highlight is a rare 2010 Aston Martin One-77 (estimate: $1.3 – 1.6 million) – one of only 77 examples constructed. A model that rarely comes to market, this special car, presented in Pearl White, is capable of 220 mph and was created by Aston Martin to compete with the world’s most advanced hypercars of the era.
At the heart of Collectors’ Week lies a landmark single-owner sale, showcasing an exquisite jewellery and watch collection meticulously assembled over decades by one collector. The collection unites rare diamonds and precious gemstones with an exceptional array of vintage and contemporary signed pieces by celebrated jewellers, alongside highly
significant vintage and modern timepieces. Estimated to achieve in excess of $20 million, it represents one of the most prestigious collections to grace
the market in decades.
Leading the jewelry is The Desert Rose, the largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink Diamond ever graded. Weighing an extraordinary 31.86 carats, this pear-shaped diamond radiates a unique,
sunset-like blend of pink and orange – a gemstone of both aesthetic and gemological significance.
Introduced to the world by Sotheby’s in the landmark ‘Beyond: The World’s Rarest Diamonds’ exhibition in Abu Dhabi this past April, the Desert Rose is set to make its auction debut with an
estimate of $5 – 7 million.
Among the standout timepieces is an exceptionally rare and highly coveted Rolex “Oyster Albino” Daytona, reference 6263. Produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this legendary variant
breaks from the standard Cosmograph Daytona aesthetic, which typically features contrasting sub-dials. Instead, the Albino is defined by its strikingly monochromatic silver dial and subsidiary registers — a minimalist deviation that dramatically heightens its allure.
With only a handful of known examples, this grail configuration first propelled to fame when Eric Clapton’s personal watch appeared at auction nearly seventeen years ago. Emerging fresh to market, this extraordinary reference 6263 carries an estimate of $500,000 to $1million.
More about Collectors Week: Sothebys.com/ADCollectorsWeek
SOTHEBY’S IN THE UAE
In October 2024, ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, announced a minority equity investment in Sotheby’s, marking the largest investment in the global art industry since the acquisition of the auction house by Patrick Drahi in 2019. The investment has opened the doors to establishing an even more robust presence in the region, and Sotheby’s has since officially incorporated in Abu Dhabi, with a physical presence that sits alongside a network of offices around the world, including Dubai and Riyadh. This inaugural auction series is part of a significant plan to expand Sotheby’s footprint further. Most recently, this April, Sotheby’s collaborated with ADIO to present a spectacular array of diamonds at the Bassam Freiha
Foundation in Abu Dhabi, with over $100 million of rare, coloured gems on view to the public in an unprecedented moment.
Collectors’ Week follows Sotheby’s official incorporation in Abu Dhabi earlier this summer and marks the next step in Sotheby’s continued and long-term commitment to the region.
Jean-Luc Berrebi, Sotheby’s board member focused on expanding collaboration with the UAE, commented: “Sotheby’s incorporation in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in our
ongoing commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East. This strategic move reflects our deep confidence in the region’s dynamic cultural landscape and our growing partnerships with its visionary leaders, collectors, and institutions. We look forward to contributing meaningfully to the UAE’s vibrant art ecosystem and expanding our presence across the region.”
ABU DHABI INVESTMENT OFFICE
As the government vehicle responsible for accelerating Abu Dhabi’s economic growth, ADIO’s retail development initiatives ensure that liveability and community well-being are at the centre of economic diversification efforts. ADIO is committed to building a robust luxury retail landscape, defined by innovative consumer experiences, excludefined by innovative consumer experiences, exclusive product offerings, and a thriving collector’s market.
About Sotheby’s
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate.
Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.
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* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the
purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.
Stream live auctions and place bids in real time, discover the value of a work of art, browse sale catalogues, view original content and more at sothebys.com, and by downloading Sotheby’s app for iOS and Android.
About the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the government vehicle responsible for accelerating Abu Dhabi’s growth and enabling the emirate’s economic transformation. Through comprehensive support services, ADIO enables both local and foreign investors to shape industries of the future set to transform liveability, technology, resources, and value-added services. Initiatives focused on supporting tourism and retail development, as well as public-private partnerships, ensure that community well-being is at the centre of Abu Dhabi’s economic transformation. With a robust network of investors, strong collaboration with key stakeholders, and a global presence, ADIO is committed to empowering those who invest with Abu Dhabi to make a lasting global impact.